THE FOUNDATION FOR
Senior Care
by Nathalie Taylor, with Patty Sargent, FFSC Executive Director
T
he adage, “Find a need and fill it,” directly applies to the Foundation for Senior Care, a nonprofit organization in Fallbrook. The Foundation provides many valuable services; and is filling care gaps in the senior community. The staff at the Foundation uncovered additional needs as the pandemic hit the Fallbrook area in 2020. Patty Sargent, executive director of the Foundation for Senior Care, said, “The Foundation saw a need and we filled it.”
We Hire Great Caregivers
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When COVID-19 first surfaced, and the governor gave a shelterin-place order, terrified seniors began calling the office. Many of them watched the news and saw that they were the most vulnerable age group. They were also terrified that they would run out of food, fearing a trip to the grocery store. Some callers cried with relief when they heard that the Foundation could help. The Foundation advocates took many calls from frightened seniors. One particular senior said, “This is scarier than the time of World War II when we had to black out our windows. It is more frightening because it is an unseen enemy.” During the shelter-in-place order, the need for a food delivery service suddenly became critical. The Foundation began taking food orders over the phone, then used their care vans for delivery. Many seniors cannot use computers and could not order online. Other seniors live in remote areas of De Luz or Rainbow and found that the stores would not deliver to them. Darlene Weber, senior care advocate and Door-Through-Door coordinator for the Foundation for Senior Care, said, “We helped seniors with food and supplies so that so they could shelter in place and not put themselves at greater risk for contracting the virus.” After people began benefiting from the delivery service, they called the Foundation office, happy to have enough food and needed supplies. The attitudes changed. People were thankful, and many told the Foundation staff members: “If it wasn’t for you we would not have had food.” The Foundation’s Senior Care Advocacy Program can help seniors with any area of concern they may have. Advocates identify needs and figure out how to meet those needs. The program provides referrals, resources, education, and advocacy for seniors and disabled adults in areas of health care, basic needs, social services, Veterans Affairs and other national entitlement benefits in order to allow individuals to live in their homes safely, and to age in place with dignity. The Foundation’s Door-Through-Door program provides a patient’s transitional support between a hospital or skilled nursing facility and home. They ensure that the patient has the necessary support in place before they return home. A safe environment at www.my-sourcebook.com
